Pocketed sweatshirt

ABSTRACT

The current invention is a zipper-less pocketed sweatshirt having a shirt constructed of sweatshirt material with an outside surface and an inside surface. The sweatshirt has an opening in the breast area extending from the outside surface to the inside surface, allowing access through the material. Additionally, there is a free-floating pocket attached around the opening in the sweatshirt, wherein the pocket is adjacent the inside surface and accessible from outside the sweatshirt.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of a provisional application Ser. No. 60/691,031 filed Jun. 16, 2005, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved article of clothing, specifically, a pocketed sweatshirt.

Sweatshirts and t-shirts are very popular articles of clothing today. Many people, such as construction workers, wear t-shirts in warm climates and seasons and sweatshirts in cold climates and seasons. In the warmer climates and seasons, the construction workers generally wear t-shirts which have a pocket in the breast area of the shirt which allows them to hold pencils, notepads, cigarettes, and other items. However, during a cool season or in a cool climate, the worker must reach underneath the cover of a jacket or sweatshirt to a pocket on his t-shirt in order to gain access to items held in the t-shirt pocket. This can be a very difficult thing when workers are working in high places, suspended from a harness assembly or etc. Sometimes, when the worker is suspended from a harness assembly, it is difficult to gain access to a t-shirt pocket storing his items under a sweatshirt or jacket. Additionally, the worker can even drop the items if the worker snags the items on the shirt collar or waistband while pulling them out from under a sweatshirt or jacket. Therefore, it is desirable to improve the state of the art.

In light of the foregoing, the primary feature or advantage of the current invention is to provide an improved pocketed sweatshirt.

Another feature or advantage of this invention is to allow one to wear a sweatshirt and still be able to have easy access to things stored in a pocket.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a sweatshirt having a breast pocket.

Another feature or advantage of the present invention is a sweatshirt with a free floating pocket.

A still further feature or advantage of the present invention is a pocketed sweatshirt without visible stitching around the pocket except where stitched to an opening in the sweatshirt body.

These and other features or advantages of the current invention will become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the specification and claims that follow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more of the foregoing features or advantages can be accomplished with a zipper-less, pocketed sweatshirt having a shirt constructed of sweatshirt material with an outside surface and an inside surface; the outside surface is relatively smooth and the inside surface is relatively fuzzy, such as fleece. The sweatshirt has an opening in the breast area extending from the outside surface to the inside surface allowing access through the material, and a pocket attached around the opening in the sweatshirt, wherein the pocket is adjacent the inside surface and accessible from the outside of the sweatshirt.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished with a sweatshirt comprising ribbing attached adjacent a pocket opening in the sweatshirt wherein the ribbing has lines knitted into the ribbing that run parallel with lines knitted into a waistband which is attached to a bottom of the sweatshirt.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt which has lines knitted into ribbing around the pocket which match lines knitted into a waistband, cuffs, and collar.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished with a pocketed sweatshirt wherein the pocket is constructed of a single piece of material folded on one side and stitched on two other sides, forming a pocket with three closed sides and one open side allowing entry into the pocket from the front of the sweatshirt.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt wherein the pocket is constructed of multiple pieces of material stitched together in a U-shape around three sides, forming a pocket with three closed sides and one open side allowing entry into the pocket.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt comprising a hood attached around a collar area of the sweatshirt.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt comprising a shirt made from knitted material having outside and inside surfaces, an opening in the breast area of the sweatshirt from the outside surface to the inside surface and a pocket inside the sweatshirt attached to the opening and accessible from outside the sweatshirt through the opening.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt comprising ribbing adjacent an opening in the sweatshirt.

One or more features or advantages of the current invention can be accomplished by a pocketed sweatshirt comprising a hood attached around the collar area of the sweatshirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a pocketed sweatshirt according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the pocket area of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a pocketed sweatshirt with a hood.

FIG. 5 is a back side to the sweatshirt of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention is for a pocketed sweatshirt, in which the pocket is accessible from outside of the sweatshirt, yet remains on the inside of the sweatshirt.

FIGS. 1 and 5 show one embodiment of a pocketed sweatshirt 10. The sweatshirt has a body portion 12 and two sleeves 14. The body portion 12 can be any size or shape such that it still fits on a human torso. The sleeves 14 can also be any size, shape or length. A cuff 16 is preferred to be at the end of each sleeve 14. The cuff 16 can be made from different material than the body portion 12, or can be made with the same material. The bottom edge of the body portion 12 is preferred to have a waistband 18. Again, the waistband 18 can be made of the same material as the body portion and the sleeves or can be made from a different material. It is preferred that the sweatshirt 10 also have a collar 20 around an opening in the top of the body portion 12. Here again, the collar 20 can be made from the same material as the body portion 12 or can be from different material. Also, shown in FIG. 4, the sweatshirt 10 can additionally have a hood 40 in place of the collar 20.

A pocket 22 is shown within the breast area 24 of the pocketed sweatshirt 10. The pocket 22 attaches, preferably by stitching, around an opening 30 on the inside surface of the sweatshirt and remains inside the sweatshirt 10, but allows access to the pocket 22 from outside the sweatshirt 10. The opening 30 in the sweatshirt is a cut through the material and extends from the outside surface 26 of the material through the inside surface 28 of the material and allows passage through the material.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show detailed versions of the pocket area. The opening 30 extends through the material and allows access to the internal pocket 22. It is preferred, but not necessary, that there be ribbing 32 adjacent to the opening 30. The ribbing 32 adds support to the opening area 30, thereby creating a stronger, more sag resistant opening 30. In addition, the ribbing 32 adds a decorative design to the opening 30. The ribbing 32 may be constructed with lines in the ribbing 33. The lines in the ribbing 33 are preferred to be constructed perpendicular to the opening 30, but can be in any direction. This additionally adds support to the opening 30. Furthermore, the opening 30 and/or the ribbing 32 can be supported by additional material, plastic, or etc., to help stiffen the opening 30 and the pocket 22.

The pocket 22 may be constructed of a single piece of material folded in half and stitched with stitching 34 up the sides of the pocket 22, creating a pocket which is closed on the bottom and on the opposite sides and open along the top. However, any number of pieces of material can be used to construct a pocket 22. Any stitching pattern can be used, so long as the pocket 22 can hold items placed within the pocket 22. Then, pocket attachment stitching 36 is used to attach the pocket adjacent the inside surface of the sweatshirt 10 along the opening 30. Being attached in this manner, allows the pocket 22 to hang down or free float inside the sweatshirt and generally not be visible from outside of the sweatshirt, other than the opening 30. The only evidence of a pocket in the sweatshirt is generally the opening 30 and any possible ribbing 32.

The preferred material for the sweatshirt 10 of this invention is standard knit sweatshirt material which is commonly known in the art. The material itself, as shown in FIG. 3, has a relatively smooth outside surface 26 and a relatively fuzzy/fleece inside surface 28. The fuzzy inside surface 28 allows for a warmer feel from the material against human skin.

One point of novelty of the current invention is a pocketed sweatshirt 10 in which the pocket is mounted on the inside of the sweatshirt 10 in the breast area 24 and is accessible from the outside of the sweatshirt. In this way, the sweatshirt 10 allows wearers to store items in their pocket 22 and easily access them with a single hand by reaching through the opening 30. Thus, this invention has advantages over pocketed fleece jackets/shirts which use a zipper. Zippers generally require two hands to open to gain access to the pocket.

A major benefit to an internal pocket 22 as opposed to an external pocket is that items placed in an internal pocket 22 tend to not fall out of the pocket 22 as easily as items in an external pocket when the wearer leans over. The tension on the opening 30 tends to stay tighter, reducing chances for items to fall out. In addition, with the pocket 22 only attached to the shirt 10 proximate the opening 30, the pocket 22 becomes free floating everywhere but at the attachment point or stitching 36. Thus, as items are in the pocket 22 and a wearer bends down, the bottom portion of the pocket 22 can move with gravity, and even invert inside the shirt, thereby preventing the items from falling out of the pocket 22.

As seen in FIG. 1, it is preferred, but not necessary, that the pocketed sweatshirt 10 be constructed with ribbing 32 with vertical lines 33 which also match with lines on the cuffs 16, waistband 18 and the collar 20. This provides a uniform appearance on the trim portions of the sweatshirt.

If ribbing 32 is not used adjacent to the opening 30 for the pocket 22, the pocket 22 can be stitched with pocket attachment stitching 36 along the edge of the opening 30. In other words, there can be ribbing 32 on one side of the opening 30, both sides of the opening 30, or neither side of the opening 30.

The pocket 22 for this invention can be moved to either the left or right side of the sweatshirt 10, so long as it remains within the breast area 24 of the shirt 10. As mentioned above, the opening 30 may be supported with a stiffening material fastened along the opening 30 to help provide support to both the pocket 22 and the opening 30. This can help reduce sagging of the material.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

1. A zipper-less, pocketed sweatshirt comprising: a shirt constructed of sweatshirt material with an outside surface and an inside surface; the sweatshirt has an opening in the breast area extending from the outside surface to the inside surface allowing access through the material; and a pocket attached around the opening in the sweatshirt, wherein the pocket is adjacent the inside surface, and accessible from outside the sweatshirt.
 2. The sweatshirt of claim 1 further comprising ribbing extending along the opening in the sweatshirt.
 3. The sweatshirt of claim 2 further comprising a ribbed waist band on the sweatshirt, and wherein the ribbing along the opening has knitted lines parallel with knitted lines into the waist band ribbing.
 4. The sweatshirt of claim 3 wherein ribs around the opening and on the sleeve cuffs, waist band and a collar all have the knitted lines extending substantially parallel to one another.
 5. The sweatshirt of claim 1 wherein the pocket is a single piece of material folded on one side and stitched on two other sides, forming a pocket with three closed sides and one open side allowing entry into the pocket.
 6. The sweatshirt of claim 5 wherein the only open side of the pocket is stitched to the sweatshirt around the opening.
 7. The sweatshirt of claim 6 wherein the three closed sides of the pocket are free from stitching to the sweatshirt so as to be free-floating.
 8. The sweatshirt of claim 1 further comprising a hood attached around a collar area of the sweatshirt.
 9. A pocketed shirt comprising: a shirt having outside and inside surfaces; an opening in a breast area of the shirt from the outside surface to the inside surface; and a free-floating pocket inside the shirt attached proximate the opening and accessible from outside the shirt through the opening.
 10. The shirt of claim 9 further comprising ribbing proximate the opening.
 11. The shirt of claim 10 wherein the pocket is attached to the shirt only with horizontal stitching both above and below the opening.
 12. A sweatshirt article of clothing constructed from knit sweatshirt material comprising: a body shaped to fit a human torso; two sleeves extending from an upper portion of the body so that two human arms can pass therethrough; an opening in a top portion of the body for a human head to pass therethrough; an opening in a breast area of the body, the opening extending from outside the material to inside the material so that items can pass through the opening; and a free floating pocket attached inside the body only around the opening for holding the items which pass through the opening in the breast area.
 13. The sweatshirt of claim 12 further comprising ribbing attached adjacent the opening in the breast area.
 14. The sweatshirt of claim 13 further comprising a waistband attached to a waist area of the body, the waistband constructed from ribbing.
 15. The sweatshirt of claim 14 further comprising cuffs attached to the sleeves opposite the body, the cuffs constructed from ribbing.
 16. The sweatshirt of claim 15 further comprising a collar on a neck area of the body, the collar constructed from ribbing.
 17. The sweatshirt of claim 16 wherein the ribbing of the opening, the waist band, the cuffs and the collar all having lines extending substantially vertically.
 18. The sweatshirt of claim 12 wherein the pocket is constructed from a single piece of fabric folded back onto itself and stitched on two sides, creating a cavity within the pocket for holding the items.
 19. The sweatshirt of claim 12 wherein the pocket is construction from two pieces of fabric stitched together creating an accessible cavity within the pocket for holding the items.
 20. The sweatshirt of claim 12 wherein the pocket has opposite sides and a bottom which are free from stitching to the body. 